Arrangement of the die-rollebs in spike-machines



. J. H. SWETT. ROTARY POINTINGDIB FOR SPIKE MACHINES.

Patented Mar. 29, 1853.

uivTTnn sTATs PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. SYVETT, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ARRANGEMENT OF THE DIE-ROLLERS IN SPIKE-MACHINES. I

Specification of Letters Patent No. 9,689, dated March 29, 1853.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES H. Swnr'r, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Rotary Pointing-Dies of Spike-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part thereof, in which- Figure 1, represents a view from that end of the machine into which the spike rod or blank is fed. Fig. 2, represents a top view, and Fig. 3, one of the shafts. detached with the rings, dies, &c., separated therefrom and standing one over the other in the order in which they are slipped onto the shaft.

Similar letters in the several figures denote the same parts.

In the use of rotary pointing dies, heretofore, it has been found that, the rear part of the rolls, or that part behind where the pointing is finished, clasps the spike or blank so tight, as to make it uncertain, or at least difficult for the nippers to draw the pointed blank from the rolls, and often twisting it in the operation. The faces of the dies must necessarily work close together in front of the rolls, for if any play is allowed, itforms a fin, or feather edge on the spike, which when driven into wood twists or turns the spike, so as sometimes, to prevent the head from catching fairly over the flanges of the rails when used for railroad purposes. This evil of clamping the spike after it is really pointed, is due to the necessity of having the faces of the dies work close together in advance of the pointing, and no remedy heretofore has been discovered for overcoming it.

The nature of my invention consists in skewing the shafts or axes of the rotary pointing dies, so that they shall stand oblique toward each other in their vertical lines, and beveling ofl the faces of the dies at or about the same inclination at which the shafts stand to each other, for the purpose of forming a square close fitting space in front of the dies or where the blank is fed in, and spreading the dies in rear or behind where the spike 1s pointed, to relieve it and allow the nippers to take it from the dies without injury to the spike, and with great certainty of action.

7 To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to de scribe the same with reference to the drawings.

A, represents the upper, and B, the lower shaft of the pair, their obliquity being more clearly seen in Fig. 2. The pillow blocks in which they rotate, and the gearing by which they are driven, must be suitably skewed, so as to admit of no cramping of the parts. Each of the shafts has, cast upon it, a permanent flange C. A ring D, is then prepared and slid over the shaft against said flange. The hole in the ring D, is sufficiently large to allow the die holder E, to sit inside of it, while the hole in the die holder neatly fits the shaft.

F are the dies which are made of steel or otherwise, and can be moved out, or entirely removed when worn away, and they sit in proper slots or mortises cut or cast in the die holder. On top of the die holder is placed the ring G, closely encircling the shaft, and screw bolts or other fastenings may pass through the whole when in place, into the permanent flange, for making all the parts substantial and firm. Set screws may also pass through the ring G, their points resting against the dies F, for holding them firmly in place when set. By this means any of the parts most subject to be worn away or broken, may be renewed at pleasure, without changing any of the other portions of the machine. The dies and die holder may be of chilled cast iron, or at least those portions of them which enter more actively in the operations of the machine.

By reference to Fig. 2, it will be perceived that while the front part of the rolls present a perfectly tight fitting square space for the entering and holding of the blank, the rear part of them is sufficiently flaring to liberate the spike after it is pointed. The whole work is performed in advance of, and terminates immediately under the center of the rolls vertically. There is no necessity therefore, behind that point of having them fit closely. On the contrary it is a positive injury, for the spike by the upsetti f the iron between the faces of the flanges and the dies in forming the point becomes so jammed in between the rolls, as to prevent the nippers with any degree of certainty from taking it away, or become so bent up as not to fit into the heading dies. This must always be the case where the shafts or axes of the rolls are parallel with each other, for in such case the face of the dies cannot be beveled, as it would form a fin on the spike. and beveling the faces of the dies correspondingly I effectually overcome the difficulty.

This principle may be applied to the pointing of other than railroad spikes, and also in'the rolling of anything where it is desired to open the rolls after they have accomplished their work, to allow them to clear themselves of the pieces or parts rolled, and I so intend to apply my invention.

Having thus fully described the nature of my invention what I claim therein as But by skewing the shafts,

new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s Skewing the shafts or axes of rotary pointing dies, so that they shall stand oblique to each other, and beveling off the faces ofthe dies, to the same or about the same angle at which the shafts stand to, or cross each other, for the purpose of forming a close fitting space in front of the dies, or where the blank is fed in, and spreading the dies in rear, or behind where the spike is pointed, so as to release it, and allow the nippers to take the spike from the pointing dies, Without injury to the spike, substantially as described.

JAMES H. SVVETT.

Witnesses:

A, B. STOUGHTON, S. C. DONN. 

